CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THE FEMALE SUDANESE JOURNALIST

Cairo, September 1, 2009
ECWR (Egyptian Center for Women's Rights) is organizing a campaign to support the female Sudanese journalist 'Lubna Ahmed Al-Hussein' who was given a sentence to be lashed 40 times for having worn slacks. According to the general consensus concerning proper uniform attire, Ms. Al-Hussein was accused of violating public order and morals, as her actions have been described as "flagrant." According to Article 152 of the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code (Indecent and Immoral Acts), "in a public place, any indecent acts or immoral conduct which are a flagrant breach and violation of public morality or considered harassment because of general feelings and interests will be punished with 40 lashes and/or a fine."
In this frame, ECWR seeks to gather the solidarity of human rights, women's rights organizations, and individuals because of the dangerous of the issue on human rights in general and women's rights in particular where including abuses and violation of personal and humanity right.
This incident is an insult to Islam and contributes to a negative world view of Muslims and undermines Islamic values of respect, freedom, and justice. And the political use of Islamic law and practices leads to the entanglement of Sharia laws in the justification of such actions, which is, to say the least, barbaric. Finally, the same system, which was established for this trial, in addition to 13 other women, permitted female police officers to wear pants in Sudan ! This confirms that lashing women in Sudan is used politically to satisfy the fundamentalists, extremists, and religious trends as a way to maintain the current regime.
Please join in the campaign to promote freedom and justice for all, and sign this letter, which will be sent to the Embassy of Sudan in support of 'Lubna' and as a protest to this unjust punishment. Please return your signature by August 27th.
ecwr@ecwronline.org